Television receiver cabinet



Sept. 3, 1957 J. K. ROSE TELEVISION RECEIVER CABINET 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 6, 1951 p 1957 J. K. ROSE 2,805,411

TELEVISION RECEIVER CABINET Filed Nov. 6, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 P 1957 J. K. ROSE 2,805,411

TELEVISION RECEIVER CABINET Filed Nov. 6, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inga/Lim mwsjgjeww United StatesPat-ent TELEVISION RECEIVER CABINET Joseph K. Rose, Chicago, 11].

Original application December 27, 1946, Serial No. 718,850, now Patent No. 2,604,536, dated July 22, 1952. Divided and this application November 6, 1951, Serial No. 255,031

1 Claim. (Cl. 340-367) This invention relates to a television receiver or other viewing apparatus, such as a projector having a self contained screen, and particularly to means to adjust the angularity of the viewing screen in accordance with the conditions surrounding the reception of the televised images and to means for shielding the viewing screen from extraneous light.

This application is a division of my prior application, Serial No. 718,850, filed December 27, 1946, which issued as Patent No. 2,604,536 on July 22, 1952.

Images displayed on a viewing screen, as in a television receiver, can be viewed most perfectly when the eyes of the observer are near a line perpendicular to the center of the plane of the viewing surface of the image exhibiting member. Within a certain distance from this line viewing is considered satisfactory. This satisfactory viewing space in front of the image exhibiting member is contained within the confines of a truncated figure whose cross sectional area is approximately the same shape as the viewing screen, that is, rectangular with rounded corners. These sections become increasingly larger as the distance from the screen increases. The longitudinal axis of this truncated figure is the above mentioned perpendicular to the center of the image exhibiting member. Television receivers heretofore known have had fixed viewing screens, incapable of adjustment except by the process of moving the entire cabinet housing the receiver.

It is an object of this invention to provide means for adjusting the angularity of the viewing screen by rotating the screen, within predetermined limits, in one or more directions. it is another object of this invention to mount the image exhibiting member rigidly with asupporting shelf and an apertured front panel so that the assembly is movable as a unit relative to the cabinet.

It is another object of this invention to provide light shields for the viewing screen that may be adjusted in accordance with the position of the viewing screen as well as the extraneous light conditions. Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon reading the following decription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a television receiver with the viewing screen pulled forward for viewing by seated viewers and the top section down to provide maximum top light shielding;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the viewing screen pushed back a few degrees for viewing by standing viewers and the movable portion of the cab inettop raised angularly to increase the vertical angle of vision without eliminating the top light shielding;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view showing the movable shelf and panel mounting;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view showing the means of supporting the shelf for sliding movement;

Figure 5 is a detail elevational view of a modification i showing a lifting jack structure for moving the shelf;

-- a 2,865,411 1C Patented Sept. 3, 1957 Figure 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment in which the image exhibiting assembly is pivoted adjacent its bottom;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective of the cabinet shown in Figure 6 with the image exhibiting assembly raised;

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view showing the mounting of the image exhibiting assembly;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary cross sectional view showing the method of pivoting the image exhibiting assembly;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a television receiver in which the viewing screen is rotatable to vary the lateral angle of the screen;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the viewing screen rotated slightly from the position shown in Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a rear perspective view of the interior of the television receiver showing the rotatable platform; and

Figure 13 is a detail perspective view of the means for holding the platform in any lateral position.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates a television receiver cabinet having a front 3, a top 4, side walls 5 and 6, a back 7 and a base 8. A shelf 9 secured inside the cabinet has the television chassis 10 mounted thereon, as shown in Figure 3. Control knobs 11 are mounted on the front of the cabinet to operate the receiver. A movable assembly 12 comprising a panel 13 and a shelf 14 is pivoted to the front of the cabinet just above the control knobs 11. The panel 13 is provided adjacent its top with a handle 15 by means of which the assembly may be moved angularly between a nearly vertical position and a position approximately thirty degrees from the vertical. Sufficient friction is provided, by means hereinafter described, to hold the assembly in any position of angular adjustment within its range of movement.

An upright member 16 is positioned adjacent each side of the shelf 14. The uprights are secured to the shelf 9 in any suitable manner. The members 16 are each pro- .vided with a recess 18, as shown in Figure 4. The recess extends from adjacent the top of the member 16 to a point just above the shelf 14 when the shelf is in its lowermost position, and is curved slightly as shown in Figure 3. A block 19 is secured to the shelf 14 adjacent each recess 18. Each block 19 has a recess 20 extending inwardly from the side adjacent the slot 18. Preferably a cup shaped member 21 is secured in the recess. A coiled spring 22 is positioned in the member 21 and exerts outward pressure on a rod 23 which is postioned partly in the member 21 and extends into the recess 18. In order to maintain a smooth contact surface for the rod 23, the recess 18 is preferably provided with a U-shaped metal channel 24. The force of the spring 22 pressing the rod 23 against the metal channel creates sufiicient friction against the movement of the assembly 12 to hold it in any angular position to which it may be moved.

The panel 13 is provided with an aperture 25 which is in registration with the front end 26 of a cathode ray picture tube 27 which is movable with the assembly 12. The front end 26 of the cathode ray picture tube is generally circular in cross sectional area but the aperture blocks out part of the edges so that the visible area appears to be substantially rectangular with rounded corners. This portion visible through the aperture 25 constitutes the image exhibiting member or viewing screen.

The top section 28, positioned over the panel '13, is hinged at its rear edge to the top 4. The underside of the top section 28 is curved, as indicated at 29, so that its inner surface is an arc coinciding with the path of travel of the top. edge of the panel 13 when the top section is in its down position. Accordingly, no gap. exists between the panel 13 and the top section 28 when the top section is down regardless of the angular adjustment of the image exhibiting member.

In th Positions of the image. exhibiting. member shown. in Figures 1 to 3 the panel 13 and the image. exhibiting member 26 slope rearwardly and upwardly from. the. front of the cabinet just above the. control'knobs. 11. In. this position the inset portion of the side wall and. the center wall 1-7 act as partial side, light, shields and the top sect-ion 28 serves as a top ligh shield. .As the image exhibiting member is moved backwardlyabout the pivot it y be desirable. t ra se the t p Section .28 to. increase. the pw r angle f vi i n. The panel.- 13 ha a flan e extend ng rearwardly' from its, top. edge, as shown in Figure to Prevent nrgan etwe n the lower surface. of the p e o and the Panel. .13 he top section is raised angularly. The hinge of; the. top section has sufficient friction to hold the top section in any PQsiti'on of angular adjustment.

Th ng dj stment of. he r nt panel; 1 an tthe tilting of the top section 28 are not necessarily related.

adjustments. If the viewers are seated in; a darkened room it may be desired to tilt the top section upward to increase the angle of vision without changing the front panel position. 7 f

The top section 28. has a pair of fan shaped bellows 31 and 32 attached to its bottom surface adjacent. opposite lateral edges. When the top section is raised angularly the bellows 31 and 32 extend the side light shielding so as to prevent any extraneous. light from passing between the top of the cabinet and thennderside of the top section 28.. In the down position of the top section the side light shields collapse intorecesses 31- and 32' in the top of the side wall 5 and they center wall 17 a required. The hinged'top sectionprovides. an angle of vision suificiently' high to enable standing viewers to observe the screen with a relatively low cabinet. With a fixed top section the top. would obscure the view of standing viewers unless it were positioned a greater dis-.

tance' above the image exhibiting member.

A modified structure is shown in Figure '5. in which positive control means is provided for moving the assembly 12 about its pivot. 1 jack comprising a shaft 34 rotatably secured to a base 35 mounted on the shelf 9. 'The shaft is threaded, as

indicated at 36, and a sleeve 37 is, engaged'with the threaded portionto move substantially vertically as the.

shaft is rotated} A pinv 38,. secured to the upper end of The control means is a lifting.

' washer 55 is mounted on each rod 52 and a castellated the sleeve. extends into a recess 39. in the edge of the: a

shelf 14 so as to move the unit 12 about its pivot as the.

pin moves substantially vertically. The shaft 34'is. r0.-

ta'ted' by means of a gear 40 secured thereto. whichis.

engaged by a worm'gear 41 mounted, on a shaft 42 which extends'thro'ugh the side wall 5 of the, cabinet- A wheel or knob (not shown).is fixed to the shaft 42, outside the cabinet so-i-t can be rotated. 1 It is obvious. that the jack mechanism will maintain the unit 12 in any.

. structure may be omitted.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 6. to 2,

inclusive, a movable assembly 43, comprising a shelf 44,,

a front panel 45, and. a top section 46, is pivoted, to. a pair of oppositely. disposed uprights 47, as indicated. at 4.8,;

Figure 8;" The picture tube 49. and the chassis are both secured in fixed'relati'onship to the assembly and rotate.

nut 56 is screwed. tightly against the washer and 'held in place by means of a cotter pin 57.

As shown in. Figure. 8, the pivot 48 is positioned just above. the. shelf .44 at, a point between the center and the back of the shelf. Many of the parts on the front portion of the chassis base 50 are radio frequency coils which are relatively light in weight. such as power transformer and iron core chokes are mounted on the rear portion of the chassis base. If desired, lead weights may: also be added to the rear portion of the chassis base in order to balance the movable assembly ata point closeenough to the rear of the cabinet to obtain the desired angular adjustmentsin the space available.

The heavier units which are mounted on the rear of the chassis base are generally larger than the units mounted on the front. The rear portion of the chassis base is, therefore, reduced in height, as. indicated at 58, so. as to bring the center of gravity of the rear portion of the assembly down so. that it will be. on a straight line with the; center of gravity of the front portion of the assembly and the pivot point 48. When the two centers of gravity and: the pivot point are aligned pivotal: movement of the assembly will not disturb the. balance because the moment arms on both sides ofthe pivot will change proportionately as. the. assembly is. moved about the pivot and both sides will remain substantially balanced. The friction of the spring; washers 55- is sufficient to. hold. the assembly in any angular position to. which it has been adjusted. The force. required to move. the assembly 43 about the pivot 48. is that required to. overcome. the friction in the assembly plus. or minus whatever slight deviation may exist from. perfect balance. It is obvious that the deviation from p.er-. feet balance must not exceed the friction.

In order to permit movement of the assembly 43 about the pivot 48., the top section. 4.6 is beveled at its rear top surface, as indicated at 58 and the forwardly extending' edge. of the adjacent portion of the cabinet top 59 is. complementarily beveled, as indicated at 64 The top. edge. of. the, front wall 61 just below the assembly 43 is, beveled on the inside, as. indicated at 62, so that an apron 63,, attached to the front of the shelf 44, may extend into the cabinet, when, the assembly 43 is in its down position. When the. assembly is moved upwardly the apron closes the space between the bottom of the assemhly and: the top of the front wall 61 just below the assembly. Instead of the solid apron 63 a collapsible bellows. maybe substitutedj. Whenv a bellows structure is used they frontwall of will preferably be provided with a recess into which the bellows may be collapsed.

In the embodiment hereinabove described, the top section 46 always projects forwardly of the front panel 45, as indicated at 64, to serve as a top light shield for the image exhibiting member 65. The overhanging portion 64 of the top also serves as a convenient means for moving the assembly '43 about its pivot. When the assembly. is in its down position the inset sides 66, furnish side light; shieldm In the embodiment of Figures 10 to- 13, inclusive, means is provided for adjusting the image exhibiting member laterally by. rotating an assembly. 67' pivoted at the center of its front end and mounted on rollers68 at itsrear; The platform 69', on which the chassis 70 and the. picture tube 71 are mounted, has its sides. tapering towards. thev rear,

- as indicated at 72, to provide clearance for lateral angular movement. The assembly 67 also includes a front panel The heavier parts 73 having an aperture 74 through which the image exhibiting member 75 may be viewed. The front panel 73 has a rearwardly extending top flange 76 and a pair of rearwardly extending side flanges 77 and 78. The front 79 of the cabinet adjacent the flanges 77 and 78 is also provided with rearwardly extending flanges 80 and 81. The flanges 76, 77, 78, 80 and 81 prevent access to the cabinet between the front panel 73 and the adjacent portions of the front 79 when the image exhibiting assembly 67 is in a laterally rotated position, as indicated in Figure ll. The flanges 77 and 78 are slightly rounded, as indicated at 82 and 83 to provide clearance when the assembly 67 is rotated from the straight forward position of Figure to the laterally rotated position of Figure 11.

A rod 84 extends from the rear edge of the platform 69 and may be used as a handle to rotate the assembly 67 laterally within a range of about twenty degrees. A rounded, reinforced back 85 at the rear edge of the cabinet 86 is provided with a horizontally extending slot 87 through which the rod 84 extends. A wing nut 88 is threaded on the end of the rod 84 and can be tightened against the back 85 to positively hold the assembly 67 in any laterally adjusted position. It will be obvious that the shelf 89, Figure 12, upon which the assembly 67 is pivoted, may be constructed in accordance with the disclosure of the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 to 9, inclusive, so that the assembly 67 may be adjusted vertically as well as laterally.

Although the illustrations in this application are of the direct viewing type of television receiver and the accompanying description is, for the most part, written for this type of receiver, the principles involved, of change of location or angle of image exhibiting assembly resulting in corresponding change of location or angle of image viewing screen, also apply to the projection, reflecting and other types of television receivers. In the projection receiver this movable assembly would generally contain the reflecting mirror and the front viewing screen, while in the reflecting type it would contain the reflecting mirror.

While I have described a few preferred embodiments of my invention in considerable detail, it will be understood that the description is intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details of structure may be modified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact details described, except as limited by the appended claim.

I claim:

In a television receiver, a cabinet, the forward edge of the top of said cabinet normally lying in the vertical plane of the front of said cabinet, a front panel movable angu larly about a horizontal axis adjacent its lower edge, an image exhibiting member viewable through an aperture in said panel and movable therewith, and means for moving the portion of said cabinet top overlying said image exhibiting member upwardly about a horizontal axis positioned rearwardly of the front edge of cabinet to provide increased angle of vision relative to said image exhibiting member when said panel and said image exhibin'ng member are angularly moved to a position in which the upper portion of said panel is rearwardly of the front of said cabinet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,109,431 McDonald Feb. 22, 1938 2,260,721 Linsell Oct. 28, 1941 2,285,509 Goshaw June 9, 1942 2,299,393 Johnson et al. Oct. 20, 1942 2,350,889 Harmon June 6, 1944 2,368,882 Rose Feb. 6, 1945 2,413,922 Jensen et al. Jan. 7, 1947 2,499,579 Fritsch Mar. 7, 1950 2,566,830 Goldsmith Sept. 4, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 100,949 Australia Mar. 20, 1937 828,051 France May 10, 1938 836,158 France Jan. 12, 1939 

